Bill Text: IL SB3644 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends various Acts relating to the admission of students to public universities in Illinois. Relative to the 15 units of high school coursework that each student must satisfactorily complete for admission to a university, adds agricultural sciences as a course option to the required 3 years of science category and agricultural education as a course option to the required 2 years of electives category.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2021-01-13 - Session Sine Die [SB3644 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SB3644-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 SB3644 Introduced 2/14/2020, by Sen. Rachelle Crowe SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
110 ILCS 305/8 from Ch. 144, par. 29
110 ILCS 520/8e from Ch. 144, par. 658e
110 ILCS 660/5-85
110 ILCS 665/10-85
110 ILCS 670/15-85
110 ILCS 675/20-85
110 ILCS 680/25-85
110 ILCS 685/30-85
110 ILCS 690/35-85
Amends various Acts relating to the admission of students to public universities in Illinois. Relative to the 15 units of high school coursework that each student must satisfactorily complete for admission to a university, adds agricultural sciences as a course option to the required 3 years of science category and agricultural education as a course option to the required 2 years of electives category.
LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
A BILL FOR
SB3644 LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
AN ACT concerning higher education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by
changing Section 8 as follows:
(110 ILCS 305/8) (from Ch. 144, par. 29)
Sec. 8. Admissions.
(a) (Blank).
(b) In addition, commencing in the fall of 1993, no new
student shall then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in
any of the departments or colleges of the University unless
such student also has satisfactorily completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or

SB3644 - 2 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that institutions may admit individual
applicants if the institution determines through
assessment or through evaluation based on learning
outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
education courses and courses taken in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois shall
not discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also
admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to
complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
providing that in either case, the institution
incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum

SB3644 - 3 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
courses or other academic activities that compensate for
course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of the 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(c) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (b).
(d) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.
(e) The Board of Trustees shall establish an admissions
process in which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to
submit an application for admission to the University as a
freshman student enrolling in the spring semester if the
veteran was on active duty during the fall semester. The
University may request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs
confirm the status of an applicant as an honorably discharged
veteran who was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management

SB3644 - 4 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
Act is amended by changing Section 8e as follows:
(110 ILCS 520/8e) (from Ch. 144, par. 658e)
Sec. 8e. Admissions.
(a) Commencing in the fall of 1993, no new student shall
then or thereafter be admitted to instruction in any of the
departments or colleges of the University unless such student
also has satisfactorily completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that institutions may admit individual
applicants if the institution determines through

SB3644 - 5 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
assessment or through evaluation based on learning
outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
education courses and courses taken in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University shall
not discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Institutions may also
admit 1) applicants who did not have an opportunity to
complete the minimum college preparatory curriculum in
high school, and 2) educationally disadvantaged applicants
who are admitted to the formal organized special assistance
programs that are tailored to the needs of such students,
providing that in either case, the institution
incorporates in the applicant's baccalaureate curriculum
courses or other academic activities that compensate for
course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5

SB3644 - 6 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by
changing Section 5-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 660/5-85)
Sec. 5-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Chicago State University
unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:

SB3644 - 7 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that Chicago State University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Chicago State University shall not

SB3644 - 8 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Chicago State
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.

SB3644 - 9 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended
by changing Section 10-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 665/10-85)
Sec. 10-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Eastern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);

SB3644 - 10 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that Eastern Illinois University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Eastern Illinois University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Eastern Illinois
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally

SB3644 - 11 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who

SB3644 - 12 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended
by changing Section 15-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 670/15-85)
Sec. 15-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Governors State
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),

SB3644 - 13 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that Governors State University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Governors State University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Governors State
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework

SB3644 - 14 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended by
changing Section 20-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 675/20-85)

SB3644 - 15 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
Sec. 20-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Illinois State University
unless such student also has satisfactorily completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that Illinois State University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant

SB3644 - 16 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Illinois State University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Illinois State
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).

SB3644 - 17 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is
amended by changing Section 25-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 680/25-85)
Sec. 25-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Northeastern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and

SB3644 - 18 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that Northeastern Illinois University may
admit individual applicants if it determines through
assessment or through evaluation based on learning
outcomes of the coursework taken, including vocational
education courses and courses taken in a charter school
established under Article 27A of the School Code, that the
applicant demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially
equivalent to the knowledge and skills expected to be
acquired in the high school courses required for admission.
The Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University
shall not discriminate in the University's admissions
process against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established

SB3644 - 19 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
under Article 27A of the School Code. Northeastern Illinois
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman

SB3644 - 20 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)
Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended
by changing Section 30-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 685/30-85)
Sec. 30-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Northern Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);

SB3644 - 21 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that Northern Illinois University may admit
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Northern Illinois University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Northern Illinois
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,

SB3644 - 22 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)

SB3644 - 23 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended
by changing Section 35-85 as follows:
(110 ILCS 690/35-85)
Sec. 35-85. Admissions.
(a) No new student shall be admitted to instruction in any
of the departments or colleges of the Western Illinois
University unless such student also has satisfactorily
completed:
(1) at least 15 units of high school coursework from
the following 5 categories:
(A) 4 years of English (emphasizing written and
oral communications and literature), of which up to 2
years may be collegiate level instruction;
(B) 3 years of social studies (emphasizing history
and government);
(C) 3 years of mathematics (introductory through
advanced algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or
fundamentals of computer programming);
(D) 3 years of science (laboratory sciences or
agricultural sciences); and
(E) 2 years of electives in foreign language (which
may be deemed to include American Sign Language),
music, vocational education, agricultural education,
or art;
(2) except that Western Illinois University may admit

SB3644 - 24 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
individual applicants if it determines through assessment
or through evaluation based on learning outcomes of the
coursework taken, including vocational education courses
and courses taken in a charter school established under
Article 27A of the School Code, that the applicant
demonstrates knowledge and skills substantially equivalent
to the knowledge and skills expected to be acquired in the
high school courses required for admission. The Board of
Trustees of Western Illinois University shall not
discriminate in the University's admissions process
against an applicant for admission because of the
applicant's enrollment in a charter school established
under Article 27A of the School Code. Western Illinois
University may also admit (i) applicants who did not have
an opportunity to complete the minimum college preparatory
curriculum in high school, and (ii) educationally
disadvantaged applicants who are admitted to the formal
organized special assistance programs that are tailored to
the needs of such students, providing that in either case,
the institution incorporates in the applicant's
baccalaureate curriculum courses or other academic
activities that compensate for course deficiencies; and
(3) except that up to 3 of 15 units of coursework
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection may be
distributed by deducting no more than one unit each from
the categories of social studies, mathematics, sciences

SB3644 - 25 - LRB101 19337 CMG 68806 b
and electives and completing those 3 units in any of the 5
categories of coursework described in paragraph (1).
(b) When allocating funds, local boards of education shall
recognize their obligation to their students to offer the
coursework required by subsection (a).
(c) A student who has graduated from high school and has
scored within the University's accepted range on the ACT or SAT
shall not be required to take a high school equivalency test as
a prerequisite to admission.
(d) The Board shall establish an admissions process in
which honorably discharged veterans are permitted to submit an
application for admission to the University as a freshman
student enrolling in the spring semester if the veteran was on
active duty during the fall semester. The University may
request that the Department of Veterans' Affairs confirm the
status of an applicant as an honorably discharged veteran who
was on active duty during the fall semester.
(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15; 99-806, eff. 8-15-16.)